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We Interrupt This Empire

We Interrupt This Empire... (2003, DV, 52:17) is a collaborative work by many of the Bay AreaÂs independent video activists which documents the direct actions that shut down the financial district of San Francisco in the weeks following the United StatesÂ invasion of Iraq. With the audio backdrop including live broadcasts of Enemy
Combatant Radio from the San Francisco Bay Area Independent Media Center, the documentary takes a look at the diverse show of resistance from the streets of San Francisco as well as providing a critique of the corporate media coverage of the war and exploring such issues as the Military Industrial Complex, attack on civil liberties, and the United StatesÂ current imperialist drive.

The Video Activist Network (VAN) is an informal association of activists and politically conscious artists using video to support social, economic and environmental justice campaigns.

Reviews

Reviewer:dahszil -
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August 3, 2014 Subject:
Most of the west are unconsciously living in "the banality of evil"

"If you follow their arguments to logical conclusions and we all embraced their ideas the US would just become another dictatorship like Iraq." On the contrary, If there is no descent than we become a dictatorship. And Obama is just continuing our US republic into a totalitarian capitalist state and a fascist empire. At this time our leaders who are compartmentalizing psychopaths. From Reagan to Obama we have had nothing but the aforementioned. The IA review commentators who express their hate are not the ones to be feared. It is a systematized "banality of evil" that is driving the US empire to rule the world via war, proxy dictatorships like the House of Saud, and globalization making life miserable for the majority of people on this earth. Look at what Land Grabbing in Africa has done to the family farmer. These corporate "journalists" are just brainwashed talking heads. They have no compunctions. At least many of the old Soviet press knew they were spouting bullshit.

These protesters are America's best. However protests do not work anymore. Look how the OWS and 99% was crushed. It has come to a point where authority just has too much technology and brutal force.

Several things could happen or a combination thereof. That the US empire will continue to cause misery here and abroad for the sake of controlling resources and controlling people. The latest DSM now thinks every human emotion is indicative of disorder and needs a psychiatric drug. Authority is in a war on individual personality. the goal is to make us unquestioning, Stepford men and women, drones to be used to make the powerful and the corporate/military/wall street/surveillance cabal to control human beings to the point of being flesh and blood automatons.

Another scenario is a market crash and a world war. What is happening today in the summer of 2014 is our compartmentalizing leaders have pushed the limit so far that Russia will be sucked into the Ukraine NATO backed fascist government there and its conventional counter attack will be destroyed by superior NATO conventional warfare. Out of desperation Russia, China will be pushed to launch nuclear war after a pre emptive threat from the US empire and NATO. If you think the Russian Nuclear Weapons are rusting away think again. Say goodbye to at least the Northern Hemisphere. And that would be the lesser evil because what is going on in South America is really as Tariq Ali put it "the axis of hope". But fallout and nuclear winter will also cause mass die off there also, just not as bad.

What I think is the only way to stop the US empire from ruling the world or worse mutaully assured destruction(MAD)is for a revolution from within the Government, the Surviellance structure and the Pentagon who will stand down, and refuse to go to war, or to operate covertly for our sold out representatives in congress, the white house, and the supreme court. All three branches are corrupt morally and by money. I hope the socially responsible hackers out there of who Assange, Manning, Snowden are really just the most visible with tens of thousands of hidden socially responsible hackers to help out the Internal Authority revolt or if there is no revolt from the centers of power, then to do all they can to be ahead of US State Imperialist technology and disable it all they can.

I have a flicker of hope but feel things are probably going to get worse. god have mercy on us all.

These peopole are examples of what it needs to be done. Get involved I want my kids to participate in show of opposition to the war.Too many of our young are dying for others monetary benefit.Thank God for these Bay area people

These simple non-violent protests do absolutely nothing towards stopping the huge giant Military Profiteers. This has never worked and is far too little too late!
It seems that most of the American public are either too ignorant to grasp what is really being done to their liberties or they just don't care.
This Country is owned by these giant Corporate thugs and killing people of any race or nationality is only a small part of their expected casualties of doing business ...The all mighty PROFIT is their GOD and who are you to try and stop them.
Yes...The U.S. Government is on their payroll..has been for ages!
Just think how much wealthier those in the Bush Cabinet became...every one of his cabinet had some connection to a war profiteer, check it out for your self! Now Obama is NO better.....they are all in this together, it is only we the people who will suffer from their actions.

Reviewer:mr_loophead -
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November 2, 2007 Subject:
Great piece - biased, but the TRUTH is spoken.

I hear complaints about apathy and the reality is the opposite. There have been more and larger demonstrations against Iraq and the Bush admin. both in the United States and around the world like never before. Unimaginable.

But that's never reported. Instead they want citizens to think they are being nice to provide 'Free Speech' zones.

Free Speech zones in a democracy? This could get real ugly.

Reviewer:Speak4Truth -
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September 4, 2006 Subject:
How To Keep The Status Quo

It gets points for being interesting as well as for explaining to some who may be unaware that companies profit from the war and by having their friends in powerful places.

HOWEVER, it also shows how activists destroying property and terrorizing people in cars who often have NOTHING to do with the war loses them (and their arguments against the war) much credibility in the eyes of most viewers.

At least one of the protesters was dressed in a traditional clown costume (amongst other costumes) and many were lip singing and dancing to pop songs directed towards police (not anti-war songs).

All of these things allow the media to portray those against the war as crazy idiots --how the heck does that do anything helpful for the anti-war movement? It doesn't, because the majority of people are turned off by those things. Being non-destructive and peaceful would much further advance their cause--and might even allow them to be interviewed on TV where they could give some intellectual words of why people should be against the war.

If you want less war, then your only hurting your cause by doing what many of the people have done in this video. But by all means watch the video and come to your own conclusion.

I was going to watch it but I saw "San Francisco" and realized it's probably a bunch of retarded, gay bullshit by whiny "actiists" who should get involved in the legitimate democratic process and put the friggin LSD away, it's old now... Come home, your parents miss you. There are plenty of jobs and money and food... try to pay attention (WE ARE THE GOOD GUYS, RETARDS). Stop voting for anti semite congresswomen and ex klansmen who pretend to be for the "minorities" while milking you friggin retards and raising your taxes... Hard to believe anyone would waste their time dreaming up this nonsense. And I am sure there are some cool people on the west coast... I know some who moved out there...

Surprisingly professional editing and presentation. Very well put together, and manages to avoid the overly hysterical tones of the likes of Michael Moore or Alex Jones.
As a Brit I was surprised to learn of the extent of anti war protests in the US, as I had thought them to be largely centered in the UK and other countries.

It's also interesting that this film was made before the conclusion had been reached that there were in fact no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, despite that being the one and only stated reason for war. At least one war supporter says that if no weapons were found, it would be a big problem.

Wonder how he feels now that the weapons have not only not been found, but it's known that Bush and Blair knew they were never there in the first place, as shown by the Downing Street Memo!

Reviewer:digitaldna23 -
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June 9, 2005 Subject:
nice to see so many people step up

I thought the film was well thought out , the edits flowed well , it made me laugh cry and puke . GOD SPEED to all who oppose this regime in the ussa .Peace Love And Humanity ,.love dna23

This is a great documentary. Good quality in the 2gig version. People like seank need to stick to watching Bill O'Reily, and join up with the millions of brain dead "little Rupert Murdochs" walking around blind, eating Big Macs and taking Zoeloft.

Overall this is a very good film. One moment in particular stands out, drenched in irony, and symbolic of the American situation today. Most of the film is focused on the anti-war protests in San Francisco, and the media coverage thereof. About halfway through they look at some of the counter-protesters.

In one exchange, a woman sitting on the ground says "This is about George Bush's oil money, and our kids are dying." To which a counter-protester responds "This is about your opportunity to be here" As if on cue the woman is surrounded by police officers and dragged away.

The power of America's propaganda system could not be more clearly demonstrated. A man extolling the virtues of america, that we are free to have our own opinions and voice dissent to the government, while that freedom to voice dissent is being quashed before his eyes.

A well done movie, lots of quality interviews, nice clips of street protests and some audio clips recorded off police radios. Over all i'd give 4.5 stars

Reviewer:rabble -
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March 17, 2004 Subject:
From the streets view of the anti-war movement in SF

We Interrupt This Empire is a fast paced documentary about the anti-war movement in San Francisco in the days following the start of the US/UK invasion of Iraq. It's quite well edited and enjoyable as well as giving a good sense of the politics behind the anti-war movement, protests, and tactics.

you got to be kidding. no one took these people seriously outside of San Fran at the time! why pay them any attention now. it was entertaining to see the idiot boohoo'ing at the fact that we were doing what we said we would do.

this film is just backrubbing the pathetic losers that cling to the justified 60's protest ideals and applying them to modern times where it is not justified.

But, hey who am i to judge? I will say this: if they had their way they would not need to protest, they would most likely be dead.

If you follow their arguments to logical conclusions and we all embraced their ideas the US would just become another dictatorship like Iraq.

I am telling friends to download the 2.1 GB version and then trying to help them set up local screenings to show this film. Its very well made and needs to be seen by as many people as possible. It balances the San Fran protest coverage with the reasons why people took to the streets, which gives the viewer a better understanding of why the city was shut down. It shows the media bias in action and culminates in a great pie incident. It accurately shows how Americans of color are being illegally profiled, and all in the name of "the war of terror." All in all, great interviews, great footage, great piece of work that I believe you will benefit from watching.

I wish more news was like this, trying to show both points of view. Sure, it's a little biased, but so is the current so-called "objective" network and gosh-awful cable news.
I felt bad for the woman who got the pie in her face for just doing her job. But I also thought, 'you know, those could be bullets instead. Thank god they're just pies.'
It was a little long for the point they were making, but it was very well put together.